Derek Lee

Vancouver-based filmmaker Derek Lee had made nearly half a dozen short films with his long time friend Clif Prowse before they decided to turn an idea for a web series into their feature-length debut, "Afflicted" (2014). As with each of their previous short films, Lee and Prowse shared writing and directing duties, with Lee also playing one of the lead roles. A combination of the gritty found-footage horror genre and the more stylized vampire film, the film was picked up for U.S. distribution by CBS Films prior to its premiere as a Midnight Madness selection at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival where it won a special jury prize for Best Canadian First Feature Film. The film went on to win Best Picture (Horror), Best Screenplay (Horror), and Best Director (Horror) at the 2013 Austin Fantastic Fest, as well as the Maria Award for Best Special Effects from the 2013 Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival, where it was also nominated for Best Picture. The film received a limited theatrical release and simultaneously became available on demand in early April 2014.